title: Novel pharmacological profile of muscarinic receptors mediating contraction of the guinea-pig uterus.
abstract: The present study was designed to further characterize the muscarinic receptors mediating contraction of the guinea-pig uterus. The affinities of various selective muscarinic antagonists were determined and compared with those obtained at M1 (rabbit vas deferens), M2 (guinea-pig atria) and M3 receptors (guinea-pig ileum). The contractile responses of uterine smooth muscle from immature guinea-pigs to carbachol (pD2 = 5.73) were competitively antagonized by pirenzepine (pA2 = 7.04), AF-DX 116 (11-[[2-[(diethylamino)methyl]-1-piperidinyl]acetyl]-5,11- dihydro-6H-pyrido[2,3-b][1.4]benzo,diazepin-6-one) (pA2 = 6.96), himbacine (pA2 = 7.92), methoctramine (pA2 = 7.52), 4-DAMP (4-diphenylacetoxy-N-methylpiperidine methiodide) (pA2 = 8.87) and sila-hexocyclium (pA2 = 8.81). A comparison of affinity values indicates that the muscarinic receptors present in guinea-pig uterus display a novel pharmacological profile which is not consistent with the presence of either an M1, M2 or M3 receptor. The affinities determined for the different antagonists rather showed a close similarity to those obtained at muscarinic receptors present in rat striatum and NG108-15 cells which are considered pharmacological equivalents (M4 receptors) of the m4 gene product. We thus hypothesize that the guinea-pig isolated uterus preparation may serve as a simple functional assay system to study the pharmacology of M4 receptors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Frankfurt, Federal Republic of Germany.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dörje
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Friebe
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tacke
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mutschler
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lambrecht
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007082:Ileum / Q000187:drug effects; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000187:drug effects; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D010276:Parasympatholytics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011817:Rabbits; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D014590:Uterine Contraction / Q000187:drug effects*; D014649:Vas Deferens / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D010276:Parasympatholytics; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic